NEWS

Types of Asbestos

All six kinds of asbestos are found naturally in bundles of durable and thin fibres. They are resistant against flames, chemicals, heat and electrical conductivity. They possess a high tensile and wear strength. Asbestos can be found in a variety of products including floor tiles, insulation, paint, and fabric that is heat-resistant.

Chrysotile

Before it was banned in the year 1980 Chrysotile (also known as white asbestos) was the most commonly used form of the mineral. It was this because it was affordable, durable and fireproof. It was discovered to be extremely harmful and linked to cancers like mesothelioma. While some countries still make use of asbestos, a complete worldwide ban is now required.

Health care experts continue to warn that asbestos in all its forms, including chrysotile is carcinogenic, and that no amount of exposure to asbestos can be considered to be safe. However, despite this, companies who mine and sell chrysotile claim that the asbestos they create is more safe than older forms of the mineral because it is tightly packed and unfriable.

Although this kind of asbestos is less hazardous than amphibole asbestos but it is still a risk to handle. Chrysotile asbestos is the most common type of asbestos mined, and is responsible for the majority of mesothelioma cancer cases in the world. Chrysotile, a gold-colored brownish mineral that feels soft and looks like threads, is a fibrous mineral. Through electron microscopy, the fibers look more like tubes. They are actually a combination of structural layers of minerals formed into spirals.

Chrysotile has been proven to be a cause of a variety of illnesses such as pleural mesothelioma lung cancer and other respiratory issues. It has also been linked to digestive issues and cardiovascular disease. People who work with chrysotile are especially at risk for developing these ailments because they are in constant contact with the mineral. Asbestos chrysotile was previously extensively used in construction and auto repair. It is found in old homes and vehicles.

Amosite

There are six kinds of naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals that have been used to make asbestos. Each mineral has a distinct chemical composition and physical properties. However all six are associated with an increased risk of mesothelioma. These include amphibole and serpentine minerals chrysotile and crocidolite (white asbestos) amosite, Tremolite anthophyllite, tremolite, and anthophyllite.

Chrysotile is one of the most commonly used asbestos-related type found in the United States. It is still found today in the walls, roofs and floors of a variety of commercial and residential properties. It was also used for thermal insulation, gaskets, and boiler seals in automobiles. Other common asbestos products that contain chrysotile are shingles, cement sheets, and pipe insulation.

All forms of asbestos settlement are dangerous if inhaled. The exposure to asbestos in any form could cause lung cancer, pleural disease, and mesothelioma. Inhalation is by far the most common way to be exposed to asbestos. However, it can also occur while working or handling the fibres. Exposure is especially dangerous if the materials are friable, which means they crumble easily and can be airborne as dust particles.

Friability is determined by the size of the fibres as well as their length. Thicker and longer fibers are more likely than shorter and shorter ones to penetrate deeper into the lungs.

The exposure to asbestos is most often when workers work with or remove it. This is due to asbestos being a very fine material and may be released into the air as dust after it is crushed or sanded. When asbestos is vacuumed or swept, it may release small fibres into the air. This is due to the fact that sweeping can cause fibres to break up while vacuuming causes them stick to other surfaces.

Crocidolite

Amphibole asbestos unlike serpentine asbestos (chrysotile) has long straight fibres, which are soft and brittle. They are also more hazardous to inhale. Crocidolite amosite, tremolite and crocidolite are the most commonly used forms of amphibole. Other forms include actinolite or anthophyllite. These asbestos (click to investigate) types are found in natural deposits containing chrysotile. It is believed that the other asbestos minerals are contaminants in crocidolite deposits and could be mixed with the chrysotile asbestos in the deposit.

Asbestos can be found in a variety of products, such as asbestos cement pipes sheets, sheets, friction material used in coatings, car brakes and gaskets. The fibres can be woven into papers, fabrics, mastics and threads or connected with Portland cement, resins or plastics. The length and size of the fibres will determine their best application. The shorter fibres are utilized for electrical insulation, filters, and flooring, while the longer ones are used for asbestos cement pipes, sheets and flooring.

Numerous studies have shown an association between exposure to asbestos and stomach cancer. These studies have varied results however, the conclusions aren't as conclusive due to the lack of literature. In general the risk of developing stomach cancer increases as the cumulative exposure to asbestos increases. However, asbestos the effect is lessened when the latency since first exposure is considered.

Other forms of asbestos are involved in the development mesothelioma (a malignant cancer that affects the lining of the abdomen and chest). It has been observed that children exposed to asbestos are at greater chance of developing mesothelioma, compared to adults. The reasons for this are not clear.

Lung cancer

Lung cancer is among the most common ailments caused by asbestos. It is caused by exposure to long-term asbestos, and is usually more serious than other types of asbestos disease. It can affect the lungs and sometimes other organs like the stomach or heart. It may also cause mesothelioma, which is a rare form of cancer that affects the lining around the lungs.

Asbestos is a class of six naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals. It can be present in a variety of different products. It was once widely used in construction however, it has been withdrawn due to its negative effects.

The majority of people don't get ill from low levels of asbestos in the air. However, those that do become ill are usually exposed regularly to asbestos in a particular job, and often for a prolonged period of time. The most frequent jobs that require asbestos are shipbuilding, mining and construction. In recent years, regulations from the government have reduced the use of asbestos, and it is now used in fewer structures. It is still found in older household products, such as crayons and toys for children.

All forms of asbestos can cause lung diseases such as mesothelioma and asbestosis among other diseases. Chrysotile asbestos is the most widely recognized kind of asbestos. Crocidolite and amphibole are also types of asbestos.

When asbestos-containing materials are disturbed microscopic fibres release into the air, and they can be inhaled. Inhaling these fibres, they could become trapped in the lung. Asbestos fibres can cause inflammation and scarring of the lungs. This can result in mesothelioma, lung cancer, or other illnesses that may take many years to develop. Other factors that increase the chance of developing an asbestos-related illness include smoking and having an ancestral history of the condition.

Mesothelioma

When asbestos is used for insulation, or for the construction and renovation of homes, tiny asbestos fibres are released into the air. These fibers can be inhaled or swallowed, causing serious health issues like mesothelioma.

The mesothelium is a lining that protects organs. Mesothelioma most commonly affects the lung's lining (pleural mesothelioma) and the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma). In some cases it can also occur in the heart's lining (pericardium mesothelioma) or testicles (tunica vaginalis mesothelioma).

Asbestos sufferers are more likely to develop mesothelioma as a result of exposure to asbestos at work. Mesothelioma also can affect family members of asbestos workers. Mesothelioma can be difficult recognize because symptoms aren't specific and can mimic symptoms of other diseases. As a result, mesothelioma is often misdiagnosed and patients might not receive the treatment they need.

A mesothelioma diagnosis begins with a visit to your doctor. Your doctor will conduct a complete medical history and inquire about your previous asbestos exposure. This will allow them to determine if the risk of developing the disease is higher.

When the mesothelioma diagnose is confirmed by your doctor, they will determine which type of mesothelioma you have. Pleural mesothelioma, which is the most frequent type of the disease, accounts to around 80% of mesothelioma diagnosis every year. The other two kinds are peritoneal mesothelioma, and a rare biphasic variant of mesothelioma, which contains both sarcomatoid and epithelioid cells. Your doctor will decide the best course of action for you based on the type of mesothelioma. Based on your location as well as the type of mesothelioma you have, treatment can increase your chances of survival.